The Berkeley High Jacket has the tale of two basketball coaches this week.
The first is a story about Damion McNeil, who took over as the boys’ varsity coach just a few months after the team was banned from entering any playoff games for the next two years. The suspension was issued in May, after a commissioner from the North Coast Section determined that some some members of the BHS basketball team, upset about a quarter-final loss to the Newark High Cougars, trashed a coach’s office.
Despite the ban, McNeil is optimistic about the team, according to the Jacket article.
“Even if we accept the fact that we will not be in the postseason this year, that doesn’t dampen our attitude, our excitement, or our enthusiasm about this season,” said McNeil. “If anything, it makes this season more important to us.”
In another part of the Jacket website, reporters have put up a video report about the declining fortunes of Doggie High, a hot dog restaurant located on Milvia directly across the street from Berkeley High.
The restaurant, owned by former BHS basketball coach Vincent Trahan, has seen sales drop dramatically in this recession. Trahan, who has decorated the bright yellow walls of his restaurant with vintage photographs of school teams, will decide in a month whether he can stay in business.
